New Diana memorial garden planned to mark 20th death anniversary

London: A new memorial garden in honour of Princess Diana is being planned ahead of the 20th anniversary of her tragic death, the Kensington Palace said on Sunday.

The move follows years of criticism for a series of failed efforts to build a fitting tribute to the Princess of Wales after her death in a car crash in 1997 at the age of only 36, the Mirror reported.

Historic Royal Palaces, the charity responsible for overseeing the plans, said the garden was in the "very early stages of development".

It will be the fourth London memorial created in tribute to Diana if it reaches completion.

Historic Royal Palaces recently advertised for a new gardener to help with the project, which is expected to be completed before the anniversary on August 31, 2017.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace confirmed that plans were being explored by palace officials and management at Historic Royal Palaces.

Diana's sons, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, were being kept "informed" about the garden project, he was quoted as saying by the BBC.

Harry, who was only 12 when Diana died, spoke movingly of his mother last week and vowed he would do his utmost to keep her memory alive.

He told ABC television's Good Morning America programme: "I hope she's looking down with tears in her eyes, being incredibly proud of what we've established, I suppose.

"I'm sure she's longing for me to have kids so she can be a grandmother again. But I hope, once again, everything that we do privately and officially that it makes her proud."

A spokeswoman for Historic Royal Palaces said: "Our plans are still at the earliest stages of development, and we're recruiting for staff to help us explore the possibilities."

A string of public memorials and tributes have faltered and faced criticisms for their failure to commemorate the popular princess.

The other London memorials are the Diana Memorial Playground at Kensington Palace, the Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, and the Diana Memorial Walk at St James's Palace.
Diana died in a horrific car accident in Paris with her partner Dodi Fayed in 1997.